Buffalo crew snuffs small fire

The crew of the 635-foot Buffalo extinguished a small fire Thursday evening while traveling in the St. Marys River System, according to U.S. Coast Guard reports.

LTJG. Matt MacKillop of the U.S. Coast Guard said the small fire started at approximately 5 p.m. on the bow thruster and the crew quickly snuffed the flames with a CO2 portable fire extinguisher. Damage was considered minimal and the ship was allowed to continue on its downbound journey following a preliminary inspection.

“We don’t know exactly,” said MacKillop of the cause of the fire, but initial speculation has it that lubricating oils in the bow mount motor shaft — which runs three or four decks in length — likely overheated. A more thorough investigation is currently underway, but that officer has not yet completed the official report.

The Buffalo is owned by the American Steamship Company of Williamsville, New York.

The diesel-powered, self-unloader was built by the Bay Shipbuilding Company of Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin in 1978.